By Atondu Titus

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has assured the people of Ukum Local Government Area in the Sankera axis that normalcy will soon return to the area, following an incident involving criminal elements on Wednesday.

The Governor, represented by his deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, condemned the actions as “barbaric” and reiterated that the government will not tolerate anything less than peace and security of lives and properties.

“We are committed to ensuring that peace and normalcy return to this area. The curfew imposed on the area from 6pm to 6am daily will remain in place until further notice,” Governor Alia said.

The Police Commissioner, Mr. Hassan Steve Yabanet, also reassured residents that normalcy has returned to the area, saying, “We are on top of the situation.”

The Governor’s visit to Ukum was seen as a move to show solidarity with the affected communities and to reiterate the government’s commitment to ensuring that justice is served. During the tour, the Governor’s delegation visited several locations, including Ukum Local Government Secretariat, INEC office, Government College Zaki Biam, Benue State High Court, Benue Links Park, St Paul Nursery Primary and Secondary School, Magistrate.

Odu’a Investment Company Ltd., (OICL) and the Nigerian Philanthropy Office have concluded plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide grants to spur industrialisation in the South-West Zone.

Group Chairman, Odua Investment Company Ltd., Chief Bimbo Ashiru, confirmed this in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.

Ashiru spoke on the sidelines of a meeting between the Board/Management of OICL and the Nigerian Philanthropy Office team, under the office of the Vice President, to discuss areas of partnership and collaboration between the duo.

He said the project, designed to cater for between 500 and 1,000 persons, was geared towards growing businesses, alleviating poverty, promoting agriculture and education.

According to him, the parties will sign the MoU on the partnership tentatively by July 15 to guarantee OICL take ownership of the project in the South-West Zone.

Ashiru said that the amount of the fund for the grant was still under discussion and would be announced when finalised.

The chairman explained that the South-West Governors, who are proprietors of Odu’a Investment, are involved in the project, while OICL was the initiative’s flagship company.

“The collaboration between the parties would spread across several areas, but particularly, to support businesses of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Agriculture and Education that will lead to industrialisation.

“We have so many companies, banks, that are partners too on the project, but Odu’a is the flagship for the South-West Zone, while there are other companies for the South-East and the North.

“MSMEs are the drivers of any economy in the world; they are about 90 per cent, while the multinationals are just about 10 per cent.

“They create about 90 per cent of jobs across the world, but have problems with funding; this partnership is geared towards addressing the problem and alleviating poverty,” he said.

According to Ashiru, if the Government focuses on such empowerment, it will reduce the level of poverty and create more jobs.

He expressed the willingness of the parties to ensure that everybody that was qualified benefited from the initiative, hence, the ongoing fine tuning of the MoU before finally signing.

Ashiru said, “We will ensure that people that are qualified get the fund and the right calibre of people are put at the helm of affairs of the project.

“That is why the Government is not handling it, so that people with vested interest will not hijack it.

“The most important thing in the area of Philanthropy is to have direct impact and be sustainable, and that we will ensure.

…Food palliatives to target most vulnerable Nigerians — Minister

The Federal Government has released 44,656 bags of assorted food items to residents of Abuja, the nation’s capital, as palliatives to address the soaring food prices and scarcity in the country.

The gesture is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Gwagwalada on Thursday, Minister of State in the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said, “This gesture is aimed at addressing the biting food shortages and bringing relief and succour to Nigerians.

“We are committed to alleviating the burden of food scarcity and high cost of food items on Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable who are worst affected by the situation.”

The Minister commended the federal government for the gesture, which she said would go a long way in alleviating the suffering of Nigerians. She also appealed to residents to conduct themselves in a responsible and orderly manner during the distribution exercise.

Earlier, the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam, commended President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and foresight in addressing the rising cost of foodstuffs.

Geidam said, “We have perfected plans with the area council authorities to develop a meticulous distribution plan that would ensure an efficient exercise, making sure that the food items reach the targeted groups.”

The identified groups include the six area councils, Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), Faith Based Organisations (JNI & CAN), and the 17 graded chiefs. Others include Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), all widow groups in FCT, all orphanages in FCT, groups of persons with disabilities in the FCT, Leprosy colony residents, Bwari rehabilitation home, Wako Orphanage, and IDP camps.

Geidam added that the secretariat will follow-up the exercise by delivering the items to the area councils, ensuring that the items reach the most vulnerable members of the community.

This intervention comes after the federal government’s previous efforts to address food scarcity and high prices, including the release of 23,996 bags of 25 kg rice from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.